PROBLEM ants were the biggest reason for pest control call outs in Dunfermline last year.

Fife Council received a total of 419 requests for the service in the city – compared to 324 in 2023 – with 86 visits being to deal with ants.

Wasp issues were the next biggest bane of residents' lives with 84 callouts while there were 67 calls for officers to deal with bees.

There were 59 requests for rats to be dealt with, 55 for mice, 20 for fleas and a further 10 cases involving flies.

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A report to members of Fife Council's City of Dunfermline area committee provided an updated on the work of the local authority's Safer Communities team.

It also recorded a drop in the reports of stray dogs – there were 12 compared to 14 the previous year.

In his report, Mike Collins, lead officer for the team, added: "Eleven of the dogs were microchipped, but only seven reflected the correct details of their owner.

"Eight of the dogs were subsequently claimed/returned to their owner and the remainder were passed to an animal charity for assessment prior to being rehomed.

"Officers continue to raise awareness of the importance of microchipping and the legislation in force."

The team, over the year, opened 336 anti-social behaviour cases in the Dunfermline area, up from 322 in 2023.

Of these, 310 were resolved before March 31 with 96 per cent being resolved within locally agreed timescales.